reading in excel file with hidden columns

[tanya1]

Hi, does anyone know how to read in hidden columns from an Excel file without manually unhiding them? Right now, when I read in an Excel sheet (using DDE), the hidden column is not read, and the column that follows it (with string characters) is not populated. Once I manually unhide the column, it is read, and so is teh following column. I would like to avoid manually unhiding columns in several Excel sheets. Thanks!

[Reeza]

PROC IMPORT will read them by default.
DDE is a manual process so the workaround in DDE would be difficult. DDE really shouldn't be used anymore, it's getting more and more out of date.

[piyushas]

Proc import reads in the hidden fields with no issues.